figured that out, too. “But not you?” He seemed more at home than their entourage.
“I’ve been trained to adapt to all environments.” He took the flask from her, turned it around, and drank from the exact same spot, his mouth touching where hers had. It was shockingly intimate. Her lips tingled as the memory of their kiss made her even hotter.
“Who are you, Zaxe?” He was a complete enigma. “And who hired you?” That was an even bigger question.
“I am who life and fate have made me.” He capped the water and slid it back into the pack on his sled.
“That’s a roundabout and pretty way of telling me exactly nothing.”
He shrugged his broad shoulders and continued to scan their surroundings. He should look out of place. After all, he was a stranger here. But he looked totally at home, a part of the land itself, master of all he surveyed.
She shook the fanciful thoughts away. “So, what’s the plan?” Best to concentrate on the practical details. She was good at that.
“Find the outcasts, see if Helldrick is among them or if they have any information, and get out.” He glanced at Baraj, who was leaning against a tree watching them. “Deal with any and all unforeseen problems.”
A shiver went down her spine. Zaxe would kill them if necessary. “And am I an unforeseen problem?”
The heat from his glare should have melted the soles of her boots. “Never.”
“Good to know.” She lifted her sleeve and wiped the sand and sweat from her face. Zaxe continued to watch her for several long seconds before pulling a bag of dried fruit out of his pack. He offered it to her first before helping himself.
As she munched on dried apricots and figs, she studied him, unable to look away. Unlike most men, Zaxe didn’t brag about his skills, seemed to downplay them if anything. That made him even more dangerous. Like a venomous snake, he’d stay hidden, would seem to be sleeping if anyone approached, only to strike and kill his opponent before they knew what hit them.
The fruit stuck in her throat. Retrieving her own flask, she took several sips, not wanting to drink too much. Who knew when they’d run across a water supply. They were venturing where none of them had ever traveled before.
“I’ll be back.” She dismounted from her sled and stalked toward a small stand of low bushes.
“Where are you going?” Baraj demanded.
“To the bathroom. Unlike you, I can’t just whip it out and go.” A couple of the men snickered. “Do you mind?” It was crazy to antagonize the man, but the heat and worry were making her reckless. Or maybe it was having Zaxe with her. Stupid to expect him to protect her.
“Make it fast,” Baraj snapped.
She did just that, not wanting to linger in case he changed his mind and decided he needed to keep a closer eye on her. It would be humiliating for her, which would likely please him.
When she returned to the sleds, the other men were mounted and waiting. “Which way?” Zaxe asked.
While she had never been here herself, she had seen maps from those who had. It would have been easy for her to draw it for him, but then he could have left her behind. Securing her headscarf and goggles, she revved the engine. “Follow me.”
****
Zaxe was worried about Jamaeh. The deeper they went into the desert, the more she withdrew into herself. Was it worry? Or was she leading them into some kind of trap? While she seemed sincere, he didn’t know her well enough to be certain. The tracker he had tucked in his pocket would keep Gravasian command aware of where he was at all times, allowing them to retrace his steps if necessary, if he didn’t survive.
Back at the oasis, he’d wanted to hug her and reassure her that all would be well, but that would have been a lie. There was no telling what might happen. Dusty and tired, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. The combination of her physical beauty coupled with her courage and determination drew him like a moth to a flame. Best beware and not get singed by the fire.
She seemed to know where she was going, or at least was good at pretending. Baraj and the others were getting anxious the deeper they went into the desert. Reman had sent men without desert survival skills. It was likely he didn’t employ any, living and operating